The owner of the new truck stop at Exit 206 on Interstate 70 visited with Ellsworth County Commissioners during Monday’s meeting.

“We’d like to open it up next month,” Chuck Patel said about a potential November opening. “For me, this is the biggest project I have done.”

Patel said during the project’s development, he asked a variety of individuals about the specific needs for the area.

“(I was asked) if there can be a separate pump for red diesel for the farmers,” he said.

“You’ll have a lot of red fuel there,” commissioner Shawn Thomas said.

Patel said one of the next steps is to begin hiring staff for the facility, which he hopes to keep open 24 hours a day.

“(We were) thinking $15-17 per hour. Our manager will be over $70,000,” Patel said.

Patel said he will also visit the Wilson City Council to see how the new business can help support the community.

“We’ll go to the fire department, police station. If there is anything we can do for the community, we always like to try our best,” he said. “If there are any concerns or anything we can do different, we would like to know.”

Patel said residents voiced concerns about the local Stop 2 Shop in Wilson.

“People are concerned we will close down the gas station in Wilson,” he said. “That is not our intention. We want everyone to support their local establishment.

“When we decided to do (the truck stop), it was about the interstate and the lake. We’re going to try to be 24/7; if you’re hungry past 7 or 8 and want to grab a pizza.”

Patel said plans include a “small liquor store” inside the new truck stop.

He also asked about putting up a flag pole to fly the American flag.

“I want everyone to see it from the interstate,” Patel said. “I want to follow the right protocol.”

Thomas said the county doesn’t have zoning, but suggested Ellsworth County Emergency Manager Keith Haberer reviews the potential site.

In other business:

• Commissioners discussed service calls with LockIT Technologies.

“There were a lot more service calls than we thought,” Thomas said.

Ellsworth County Clerk said more than 100 calls were made.

“It was double what I thought it would be,” Thomas said.

During a previous meeting, commissioners discussed if an annual service contract for IT is needed.

Commissioner Gregory Bender said the contract for 2026 is about $38,000.

Thomas asked to have the item placed on the next department head meeting agenda.

“If we have one department that doesn’t want to do it, it’s not worth it doing a contract for the county,” he said. “We have time on this. We have to do two months’ notice. As long as we give them notice in October, we’re good.”

• September payroll of $302,432.80 was approved.

• Accounts payable of $169.213.78, plus prewritten warrants for $22,133.72 were approved.

• An agreement with Raymond James and Associates for bonding assistance was approved.

• Tax abatement 202496 for $223.76 was approved.

The next meeting will be at 9 a.m. Oct. 6 at the commission room in the Ellsworth County Courthouse.